Endless-chain hobse-power



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ENDLESS-CHAIN HORSE-POWER.

@ Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,480, dated March 4, 1842. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KELLY, of Lewistown, Mifilin county, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in theConstruction of the Endless Revolving-Platform Horse-Power, which isdescribed as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings of thesame making part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of the horse power; Fig. 2 edge view of thepart of the chain; Fig. 3 side view of ditto; Fig. 4 edge viewof twoparts of the chain separated; Fig. 5 side view of ditto; Fig 6 theconductor for the balls; Fig. 7 view of the trough for the balls; Fig.8section of driving wheel showing grooves therein; Fig. 9 transversesection of one of the pieces of the chain.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts.

The frame A, wheel B, screw 0, slats D are made in the usual manner.

The improvements are principally in the construction of the chain E,driving wheel F, conductor G, trough H, and drop I.

Each part of the chain, half its width next the wheel, is madesemi-circular and halved at the ends so as to lap over the correspondingends of the adjoining parts which are halved on the opposite sidethereof with a quadrant tongue on each semicircular end which fits intoa corresponding quadrant groove or mortise in the next adjoining orconnecting part of the chain there being a tongue and groove thus shapedon each end of each piece of the chain on a circle described from apoint in the center of the said circle where is cast a round ear or pinwhich fits into a corresponding round aperture in the center of thecircle of the next connecting part of the chain. The upper portion ofthe parts of the chain are cast square forming shoulders which comeagainst each other when the chain is in its inclined straight position.The edges of the parts next the wheel are cast concave to admit theballs hereafter described. An aperture corresponding in shape with thatof the end of the slat is left or cast in each piece of the chain toreceive said end of the slat which is secured firmly therein. Two earsor pins are cast on each part of the chain-one on either side, tocorrespond with notches or depressions in the rim of the driving wheelon each side of the chanparts are to be put together or taken apart forany purpose whatever this construction renders the operation quite easy,simple and expeditious. And when a slat is required to be repaired orrenewed it is not neces sary to disturb the other parts, but only toremove the two parts into which the said slat is to be inserted which isdone by simply slackening the chain (effected by means of the horizontalscrew attached to the box of the small wheel) and bringing the slats atan angle of about 110 degrees with each other, in which position thetongue will leave the mortise and then by a slight lateral movement thepins of one piece will leave the apertures in the other and the twoparts will then be separated. And in putting the parts together the pinsare first inserted into the apertures-then turned vertically on saidpins which will. bring the quadrant tongue into the quadrant grooves andthus the parts will again be united which is the work of a momentonly-there being no rivets, screws, keys or permanent fastenings torender the connection expensive and diflicult.

K are the semi-circular ends before described; L quadrant tongues onditto, M quadrant grooves on the same circle of the tongues shown bydotted lines; N pins at the center of the circle; Q apertures for thepins; 0 openings to admit the ends of the slats; P concave edges toadmit the balls; R shoulders. i

The chain, when completed, is part around the driving wheel F and thesmall sustaining wheel B and tightened by screws C. It is prevented fromhaving any lateral movement by anti friction rollers 1' arranged in theframe. The driving wheel F is made concave on its peripherycorresponding with the convexity of the balls which are drawn betweensaid concave surface of the wheeland the concave part of the chain forthe purpose of reducing friction.

In the bottom of the concavity of the periphery of said wheel isformed achan nel 3 around the wheel to admit a tongue T on the end of theconductor G which lies therein for the purpose of more graduallyconducting the balls from the wheel to the trough. The edges of thewheel are notched to admit the ears or pins on the sides of the chain bywhich the chain causes the wheel to revolve. The power is conveyed fromthe axle of this wheel to the machine required to be propelled thereby.The endless platform is moved in the usual manner by horses or otheranimals walking thereon. The conductor Gr inclines down from the top ofthe propelling wheel at an angle of about ten degrees.

Thetrough H which is made deeper than the conductor, extends down in anopposite direction from the lower end of the conductor to the bottom ofthe propelling wheel I near which is arranged a drop or shutter Isupported in the frame by any suitable and convenient frame work. Itslower end is curved and forked for the purpose of delivering the ballsmore freely to the wheel. There should be a ball between each link andthe driving Wheel while passing around said driving wheel and also aball between each part of the chain and the conductor while passing overthe said conductors.

What I claim as my invention and which I desire to secure by LettersPatent is' 1. The constructing the links of the chain with the tonguesand grooves in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The method of applying a continuous row of balls under the chain bymeans of the conductor in combination with the trough as described forreducing friction.

8. The arrangement of the drop or shut ter in combination with thetrough for regulating the descent of the balls.

JOHN KELLY.

Witnesses:

' J. B. SMITH,

.WILLIAM LEWIS.

